George john altham



UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE JOHN ALTHAM, OF SWANSEA, MASSACHUSETTS.

FUEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 535,934, dated March 19, 1895.

Application filed January 9, 1895- Serial No. 534,281. (No specimens.)

To a, whom it may concern.-

. Be it known that I, GEORGE JOHN ALTHAM, of Swansea, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fuel, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a new and improved fuel composed of peat and asphaltum wherein the asphaltum is used in substantial proportions.

In carrying out my invention I grind or otherwise comminute the ingredients to finely dividethem and then thoroughly mix the same. The mixture is then placed in a suitable receptacle and heated in order to make the particles thereof adhere and to bring about the necessary union between the same. ,During this step in the process of manufacture an inflammable gas is given ofi that I may utilize for the purpose of furnishing a part of the heat required. After the mixture has been sufficiently heated it is permitted to cool and is broken up into pieces of the size suited to the purpose for which the fuel is to be used;

vary in respect to the amount of impurities or waste matter contained. In some of the deposits, as in California for instance, these impurities are often present in quite large proportions. Manifestly to produce the same result where asphaltum contains impurities it must be used in larger proportions than would be necessary were the asphaltum free from such impurities or having such impurities or base matter in smaller quantities.

As stated above, the particular proportion of the asphaltum employed will depend upon the use to which the fuel is to be put and also upon the character of the asphaltum itself, the proportions varying from twenty-five per cent. to ninety per cent. of asphaltum and from seventy-five per cent. to ten per cent. of peat respectively.

A fuel made in accordance with my invention ignites quickly and readily, burns with an intense heat, stands up in a grate like coal while burning, leaves practically no residue if the asphaltum is of a good quality and can be made at small cost.

Having thus explained the nature of my invention and described a way of making and using the same, though without attempting to set forth all of the ways in which it may be made or all the modes of its use, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A fuel composed of peat and asphaltum in substantially the following proportions, to wit, peat from seventy-five per cent. to ten per cent. and asphaltum from twenty-five per cent. to ninety per cent. respectively, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 5th day of January, A. D. 1895.

GEORGE JOHN ALTHAM. 

